Julie Lee Pederson

Obituary

Julie Lee Pederson left this world surrounded by her loving family while at the Avera Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall, MN on her 60^th birthday, December 18, 2016 after a 2-1/2 year battle with cancer. Julie was born on December 18, 1956 in Montevideo, MN to Russell and Delores Gabrielson of Hoffman, formerly of Milan, MN. She has four younger siblings; Lynn (Karen) Gabrielson of Fergus Falls, Janelle (Bill) Wellnitz of Brookings SD, Larry (Kristen) Gabrielson of Alexandria and Jeanette (Dan) Weber of Alexandria. Julie attended school in Appleton, MN graduating from high school in June of 1974. After dating in high school she married her high school sweetheart Randy Pederson on 9-21-1974 and resided in the Montevideo area. Julie began her career working in sales at KDMA Radio in Montevideo, moving on to retail clothing at Stevenson’s in Montevideo, soon being promoted and transferring to manage the Stevenson’s and Morey A stores in Hutchinson and Bostwicks in Willmar. This new career path relocated the family to the Buffalo Lake area, where they became a vital part of the community. Although she really enjoyed the retail clothing business, she didn’t like retail hours, so she took a leap of faith changing career paths to managing health care offices, first with Beeler Chiropractic Clinic in Hutchinson for 15 years followed by most recently 10 years of service at the Buffalo Lake Health Care Center. Julie enjoyed her career so much that she was actually still working for her last employer while in the Care Center in Marshall at the time of her death.  

Julie also dedicated a lot of time to many great organizations: With her passion for music, Julie served as one of the Organists at St Paul's Lutheran Church in Stewart where she also served on the Church Council. She was a Member of, and Gambling Manager for, the Stewart Lions Club earning recognition as a Melvin Jones Fellow and the Helen Keller Award, as well as Lion of the Year for the local club. Julie served as assistant Clerk beginning in October 2002, and later Treasurer for Boon Lake Township - up until her passing, along with being an active member of the Lake Allie Association. Julie devoted her time as a member of the Buffalo Lake Area Business Association for many years, and had recently served as President of the Association.

But more than anything Julie was all about her family: Together with her husband Randy of 42 years, they had three children, the oldest Ryan (Amy) born on 8-06-1975, LeeAnn (Scott) born on 3-02-1978 and Jason on 6-05-1980; her family now extends to include 9 grandchildren; Allison (Posy), Trent, Noah, Tyson, Madysen, Carter, Yvonne, Owen, Malachi and a soon to be great-grandchild - who survive her, together with her parents, mother in law, brothers & sisters, aunts & uncles and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

As a final gesture to show how giving she was, Julie donated her corneas to the Minnesota Lions Eye-Bank, so that through her death, someone else might live a fuller life with the gift of sight...  And to further the research of dread diseases like cancer and help others through study in the medical field, Julie donated her body to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program. Memorial service and celebration of her life will be at 11 am on Wednesday, December 28, at St Paul's Lutheran Church, 300 Croydon St, Stewart, MN with visitation 1 hour prior to the service.